Colchester Cycling UK

Bures Ride Report

April 15, 2012

Eight of us set off from Leisure World (Alan, Stuart, Clive, Gillian, Chris, Pam, plus Les and Gill from Tiptree on their tandem).

Alan led us through the University and on to Elmstead Market, where Keith joined us on his new tandem. We had early elevenses at Beth Chatto’s (excellent coffee and cakes). We rode on through Great Bromley, and then made our way cross country, skirting Ardleigh, Dedham and into Langham.

Then came the two hills! The pace slowed a bit as we made our way up Parsonage Hill in Boxted, and later another climb to the Beehive in Little Horkesley. Gillian left us here, and Alan’s route took the rest of us on through Wormingford. The rain clouds had been threatening all morning and here we felt the first few drops, so with just a few miles to go we stopped to don wet weather gear. Then we were off again, heading towards Arger Fen, and left into Bures, passing the moated Smallbridge Hall on the way.

At the Eight Bells in Bures we were rewarded with the usual warm welcome and excellent lunch (favourite choices were roast beef, lasagne, and jacket potatoes with copious amounts of prawns).

After a leisurely break, Alan took us on a new route past Mount Bures, and shortly afterwards, Les and Gill said farewell as they headed back to Tiptree. We were soon in Fordham, then West Bergholt, where Alan and Chris took the Bakers Lane turning, and the rest of us rode back home into Colchester, with Keith continuing on to Great Bentley.

Despite the frequent clouds and squally head winds, we had enjoyed another great day on some lovely quiet lanes and Alan had managed to find some new routes through familiar territory.

By Pam Nelson